David Hayes on that day....
What were you doing on July 9?
On the morning of July 9, 1955, David Hayes of Leitchfield, Ky. began trolling in the Phillips Bend area of Dale Hollow Lake.
Just as he cleared the point near what’s now Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park, his rod bent like he snagged a piano. But…not a piano. Turned out to be the biggest smallmouth ever caught on a rod and reel.
It was…get this…27 inches long and weighed 11-15. ELEVEN POUNDS, 15 OUNCES.
Ho-ly crap.
To immortalize the catch, the state of Kentucky recently renamed a ramp at the Resort Park marina the David L. Hayes Boat Ramp, and the cool-as-heck sign has a life-sized painting of the record fish.
We here at BassParade would LOVE to see shots of Dale Hollow anglers holding their big fish next to that painting to see the difference.
Ah…Dale Hollow. Fished there once, and ever since it’s been on the top of my list to go back to. All smallies are angry, but the ones in Dale Hollow are angrier!
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>Â The record smallie was fooled by a pearl-colored Bomber 600.
> If you’re diggin’ the painting, which is by wildlife artist Rick Hill, you can purchase one of the 100 signed and numbered prints here (total cost = $170). The older gentleman signing the print is Mr. Hayes. That’s a life-size replica (2D) of the fish – you can see how huge it was!
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Alex Voog
July 15, 2011 at 2:54 pm
That is SO worth it! ($170.) I’m so glad that he’s still alive to see that beautiful ramp sign acknowledging his accomplishment. Just LANDING that beast was an accomplishment in itself. I FINALLY got a copy of “Them ol Brown Fish” by the late, great, Billy Wesmorland. I’m “sipping” it like a fine wine, trying to prolong the experience.
Chad Keogh
July 15, 2011 at 7:04 pm
Excellent to hear about the launch, prints, and that Mr. Hayes was there to enjoy it all.